Fairest in the West- Chapter One:

Snow would’ve run faster if her skirts hadn’t been caked in mud and drenched from the storm.

Rain beat down as she ran against the force of the wind, darkness surrounding her. The moon, which was supposed to have been full tonight, was covered by black, angry clouds, the only light coming from the lightning that filled the sky.

This wasn’t how she planned to spend her eighteenth birthday.

She couldn’t hear anything over the roar of the rain, the thunder that shook the earth, and the pounding of her own heartbeat. But she knew he knew he was coming and if she stopped for even a second he would catch her and that would be the end.

She was going to die tonight.

The fact washed over her as she ran, causing her to stumble. She sank to the ground beside a tree and stayed there as the realization settled in that no matter how far she ran he would still catch her.

It was only a matter of when. The more she ran the longer she put it off. That was all. Escape wasn’t truly an option. Not when she was running in unfamiliar territory in drenched skirts and petticoats; he was a man who knew the territory and was unhindered by heavy fabric to weigh him down.

She rested against the rough bark, the cold seeping into her back through the layers of soaked fabric. This had once been one of her favorite dresses and she felt a twinge of sadness that it was ruined.

But then what difference did it make? If she was to die at least she would die in something that made her feel pretty. That was why she was caught up in this mess at all, was it not? Because she’d had the misfortune to be born pretty.

He came on her suddenly, one moment nowhere in sight, the next standing right above her, towering over her with the gun in his hand. No one would hear the shot, not over the sounds of the storm. If there was anyone within miles of this place- which she doubted- they would attribute the sound to nothing more than another rumble of thunder.

Lightning flashed, catching on the badge that rested on the man’s breast. Her breath caught in her chest and she choked on it a moment before it came out in the form of a sob.

“Please,” she whispered, though she knew he couldn’t hear her. The rain was slowing a bit now but she spoke too softly and the wind caught her word and took it away before it reached the man’s ears.

He closed the gap between them, squatting down in front of her, easy like, and she swallowed hard, feeling much like a mouse about to be pounced on by a cat. He was toying with her, knowing he had the higher ground and she was beat. He was having a bit of fun and enjoying every second of it.




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